Lee Seung-gi visits alma mater, saying "Just live through controversies like the Kyeon Mi-ri family issue"

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi revealed his honest feelings regarding how he deals with malicious comments. He stated that while malicious comments felt painful in the past and still cause hurt today, rather than reacting to every criticism, he lives by accepting them in a way he can handle. In particular, his advice drew attention: if one has done something wrong, one should reflect on it, but there is no need to shoulder all criticisms that are different from the facts.

On the 8th, a video titled "What was the reaction of high school students who watched Lee Seung-gi's live?" was released on the YouTube channel 'Green Umbrella'. In the video, Lee Seung-gi participated in the 'After-School Music Time' content, meeting students and showcasing his singing skills. The place he visited was his alma mater, Sanggye High School. While talking with students during his visit to his old school after a long time, Lee Seung-gi was asked questions regarding the struggles of living as a celebrity.

One student asked Lee Seung-gi, "When you became famous, you must have received many malicious comments; how did you endure them?" To this, Lee Seung-gi answered honestly, "In the past, malicious comments were painful. They are still painful now." He continued, "When people say bad things, it is natural for the heart to be troubled. This is not a matter of adaptation." His explanation was that even as time passes, one does not become completely numb to the criticism of others.

Lee Seung-gi also revealed his own way of dealing with malicious comments. He emphasized, "I just accept them and live," adding, "If I truly performed such an action, I can just reflect on it, but if I did not perform such an action and people criticize me for unknown reasons, it is also necessary to just let it go." The intention is to distinguish between an attitude of reflecting on one's own mistakes and an attitude of not being swayed by criticisms lacking a basis.

Advice for the students followed. Lee Seung-gi explained, "Thinking about things that make me too angry is not good for me. It ruins my day," explaining that the more one clings to negative words, the more stress one ultimately receives. He also pointed out that malicious comments and criticism are not a problem limited only to celebrities, saying, "Everyone has such experiences in life. It doesn't mean it doesn't happen just because you are not famous." He urged the students, "I hope you can become strong and accept such things with composure."

The background for Lee Seung-gi's remarks receiving more attention is the family-related controversies that have continued since his marriage. After marrying Kyeon Mi-ri's daughter Lee Da-in in 2023, his name was mentioned alongside various controversies surrounding his in-laws. Separately from his personal marriage, the past and legal issues of his family rose as subjects of public interest, which also influenced public opinion toward Lee Seung-gi. Diverse views diverged regarding how far responsibility can be held for an individual who chooses their family.

Last month, Lee Seung-gi's father-in-law, Mr. Lee, was sentenced to prison in connection with charges including violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. On September 29, the 15th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court, in a sentencing hearing for 13 people including Mr. Lee who were indicted on related charges, sentenced Mr. Lee to 3 years and 6 months in prison, a fine of 400 million won, and a collection of approximately 125.5 million won. Mr. Lee's group was indicted on charges of gaining approximately 14 billion won in unjust profits through stock price manipulation. This case refocused attention on the controversy surrounding the relationship between Lee Seung-gi's couple and his in-laws.

Lee Seung-gi had previously expressed his position when his father-in-law Mr. Lee was indicted again. He expressed his miserable feelings, stating that while a fine had been sentenced in a retrial regarding the illegalities continuously raised against his father-in-law, the situation had reached a point where he was being indicted again by investigative agencies for similar illegal acts. He continued, "Through this incident, trust between family members has been damaged to a level that is difficult to recover," and announced that after long deliberation, he would sever ties with his in-laws. He publicly organized his position regarding the family issue.

In such a situation, as Lee Seung-gi talks about his attitude toward accepting malicious comments, his remarks are gaining interest beyond simple school visit content. However, in this video, the answer regarding malicious comments was not a direct explanation of a specific controversy or a mention of the in-law issues, but rather advice on a general attitude toward facing criticism. The message is to reflect on the parts one did wrong, but not to give one's life away to attacks that are different from the facts. It remains to be seen what kind of reaction Lee Seung-gi's words, which attempt to distinguish between what he must bear and what he does not, will evoke from the public amidst long-standing controversies.

Read the original (Korean)